ONE Super Series: Wielzen tries to bounce back

Surinamese striking star Sergio “Samurai” Wielzen is hoping to do much better in his second foray into the heavily-acclaimed ONE Super Series.

In his promotional debut this past May, Wielzen came up short in his bid for the ONE Super Series Muay Thai Flyweight World Championship.

While it did not go as he would have hoped, the Sityodtong Amsterdam-based talent was nothing short of elated for the experience of his maiden performance under the bright lights of ONE Championship.

“The promotion is amazing for sure,” Wielzen shared on the official ONE Championship website. “The way they treat you is at the highest level, so I was really happy.”

With a martial arts resume that includes a 46-19-2 professional kickboxing record and two W5 Kickboxing World Championship reigns, Wielzen is definitely no stranger to performing on the big stages.

However, the 30-year-old stalwart admitted that competing on the ONE Super Series stage was unlike anything he has ever experienced in his professional career.

“For me, it was a whole different ball game. It was the biggest show I’ve ever been on – and I’ve fought on big shows. I really felt the pressure,” he expressed.

With the debut jitters now behind him, Wielzen hopes to emerge victorious in his return to ONE Super Series against debuting Muay Thai star Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon at ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES on Saturday, 22 September in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Thailand’s Rodtang, who comes in with a remarkable 252-40-10 Muay Thai standing, may be the more experienced in terms of record, but Wielzen believes that his edge is having already gone through the ONE Super Series experience.

“He’s been in big shows with big crowds in Thailand before, but he hasn’t been at ONE before. It is the next-level,” he stated.

Looking to work his way back up to another shot at the ONE Super Series Muay Thai Flyweight World Championship, Wielzen made it clear that he will be looking to finish off Rodtang in their highly-anticipated matchup.

“He has a style I like. He can come forward, and I will find something unexpected to do in that moment – to make an opening and try to put him down. I will not be fighting for points,” he claimed.